Morris tribune., 1887-11-30
SOCIAL CUTTHROATS.
CHARACTERISTICS or A coTERlE
OF NEW YORK WASHERS.


stHe belongs to o curious set OF New
York men," said the judge. "They are
creatures of recent growth, and doubt
very much If similar specimens OF the
genus man can be found anywhere else In
the world. They are called 'mashers' in
a general way, but they are In no sense
like the gorgeous London man who has
given the word 'masher' its highest mean
ing The British 'masher' is creature
of noble apparel, solemn and dissipated
air, advanced degrees In the courts OF
bankruptcy and general impresslveness.
He wears great many suits OF CLONES
during the week, affects q burlesque
actress and drives dashing traps.
The little circle of Washers in New
York has none of these proclivities. They
are men who have lived on the surface OF
the town for many years, whose names
are familiar in all of the restaurants ana
clubs, and who have gained in one way
or another regulations as slayers OF feml-
nine hearts. which stand. them in enor-
nous value. They are not in society,
sneer at the idea of toll, live in the best
possible manner, dress quietly, and are
absolutely mum about the numerous
affairs in which they pass their lives.
know O dozen men in this particular
crowd. but never knew one OF them 10
break the rules of the peculiar Tree
masonry which apparently exists among
them to keep quiet about their escapades.
This is the most curious feature OF the
whole thing A masher who does not
talk when success has crowned his efforts
would be O rarity anywhere else except
in this extraordinary coterie. They are
oueer lot. and can't say that CONSIDER
them credit to the city"
II affords @ dron study of human
nature to watch the operations OF the
Washers. Most of their faces are. as
familiar to up town people as the fltth
Avenue hotel. Their mode OF life Is SIM
nle. Take, for instance, a cold and austere
man. with q blonde mustache, regular
profile. square shoulders and careless car
rage. who has been more or less famous
about town for fifteen years. He has
scar running diagonally across his fore
head. and lust above it is single lock or
sssplash" of hair that is as white as
snow. though the rest of his hair Is DARK.
I have heard it enviably remarked by
other Washers that this gentleman's CHIEF
success is due to the immoblllty OF MS
face, the yellowness OF his mustache, tne
Wilderness of the splash and the dark mass
of hair which throws it into such sharp
relief. He is, in fact, known as Ills
Contrasts" in some quarters. F1fteen
wears ago o woman followed him IN CAP
down Fifth avenue, slipped out as ne
assemble the steps of rlvaPs
house, ran up the steps, and pushing
revolver against his head, blazed away.
The bullet, instead of going through the
skull, ran across the forehead, she wenT
4 -. %1,o nj
husband, and ellis Contrasts" retired
into painful obscurity for time. Five
wears after that he was mixed up in a
row which is still talked about by old
timers. It was three cornered fight
one woman and two men-in the cabin of
q Yacht in the lower bay. When they
dragged ellis Contrasts" out he was
pretty well knocked to pieces. Two ribs
were broken, and his general physical
welfare very sensibly impaired, but he
came up smiling, as usual. 1have known
him for many years. He has but one
object in life.
His manner Of living varies little from
day to day. have had many opportnni-
ties for observing him, as we once had
neighboring apartments in the same hotel,
and he used to amuSe himself when he
had an occasional half hour Of leisure
from his arduous duties by turning the
pictures in my room wrong side foremost,
bribing the chamber1naid to sew the
hangings into all sorts of grotesque posi-
lions, ittering my desk with violent tele-
grams and indulging in various other
cheerful and endearing pranks. at 10
O'Clock every morning 1.-THE chambermaid
pounded loudly at his door
If the tattoo was loud enough the door
would open suddenly, there would be a
wild scream and a pattering of feet as the
chambermaid scudded out of danger, and
the masher would rush out into the hall
clad in pajamas, bath robes, nightcap, felt
slippers, and carrying sponge the size OF
bushel basket. He would then wander
In more or less desultory way toward the
bathroom, stopping to pound on doors that
caught his hghtsome fancy, and shying
boots through the transoms Of rooms
where men lived who had the distinguished
misfortune to possess his friendship.
About an hour and o half. later he
would wander into the main dining room
of the hotel, cast his experienced eye over
Che people assembled there and eat a very
light breakfast. He wore frock suit all
day long, and his tailor made half dozen
year for him. After breakfast he in
variably lighted big cigar, and, if the
weather was clear, strolled up Fifth
avenue as far as Central park, and smiled
anniably upon the troops of pretty girls
who were out with their governessses,
nurses, companions, and chaperones, TAX
ing the morning air. Every girl over 10
years of age apparently knew his history,
for they would stare at him and peep
over their shoulders as he passed, in a
fashion that would startle a society actor.
At half past or 2 o'clock he drifted
slowly into Delmonico's, scanned the
faces, acknowledged the surly mods of
other Washers with short inclination of
his head, picked out his table with undevi-
ating skill, and spent the next two or
three hours among the wives and daugh-
tiers Of other men who were down town
pursuing the elusive dollar. His habit is
to eat slowly, and look, with gentle and
melancholy air, from one pair of pretty
eyes to another.
If the portraits of the handful of men
who are constant subject OF talk among
the women of New York were published
they would cause a robust and decisive
sort of derision, The majority of them
are anything but respondent or attract
i've. If there is professional matinee, a
picture sale, an art exhibition, boat
race, a crack horse auction, dog show,
horse show or circus going on in the after
noon, the masher is as sure to be there as
the ticket seller, At night he dimes at
the Brunswick, Delmonico's or the Hoff-
man house, but never in the cafe. In
this way day after day passes without the
slightest deviation. The Washers all
know each other, they frequent the same
places, they are popular with men and
pursued by women, and yet the occasions
are exceedingly rare when they are called
to account. They are adroit and hold
their tongues, and perhaps it is therein
that their safeguard lies.--New York Sun.
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